Space Jam’s 2 Just Added Black Panther’s Ryan Coogler And An Official Director

It's been 22 years since the Looney Tunes brought their special brand of cartoon antics to the basketball court in Space Jam, and for the last four years, there's been talk about LeBron James scoring hoops alongside Bugs Bunny and the gang in a sequel. Now it looks like Space Jam 2 is finally moving from pipe dream to legitimate creative endeavor, as the project has not only secured its director, but it's also recruited Black Panther's Ryan Coogler.

Following his success with Fruitvale Station, Creed and Black Panther, Ryan Coogler is briefly hanging up his director's hat and taking on producing duties for Space Jam 2. LeBron James told THR that he "loved" Coogler's vision for Black Panther and wanted him to be a part of Space Jam 2. It's also been confirmed that Terence Nance, who created HBO's Random Acts of Flyness and directed The Oversimplification of Her Beauty, will helm Space Jam 2, having previously been rumored to replace Justin Lin in that position. Production is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2019 during the NBA off-season, and Space Jam 2 will mark James' first time leading a movie after previously appearing a fictional version of himself in 2015's Trainwreck.

If the above news wasn't enough to convince you that Space Jam 2 may finally become a reality, LeBron James' production company, SpringHill Entertainment, posted the below look at the new locker room, indicating that the sequel is indeed on its way.

Although no specific plot details for Space Jam 2 have been revealed yet, like its predecessor, the sequel will see a professional basketball player joining forces with the Looney Tunes for a game of hoops that has more at stake than a trophy and championship title. Michael Jordan was the star of the show (well, the human one anyway) in the original Space Jam, and while the movie earned mixed-to-negative reviews at the time, it was a resounding commercial success, taking in over $230 million worldwide. With all the nostalgia Space Jam has attached to it, Space Jam 2 will have an uphill battle bringing audiences something equally memorable, if not more so, but recruiting Ryan Coogler and securing Terence Nance are great steps forward. This will be the Looney Tunes' first full-length theatrical appearance since 2003's Looney Tunes: Back in Action, although Marvin the Martian cameoed in Ready Player One earlier this year. In addition to Space Jam 2, there is also a Coyote Vs. Acme movie in development.

We here at CinemaBlend will keep you updated on what's happening with Space Jam 2 as more details come in. For now, be sure to plan your trips to the theater for the rest of the year accordingly by looking through our 2018 release schedule.